"Ran-sama!"
Exerting more power through her nine tails, Ran Yakumo pulled as hard as she could. They wrapped around her familiar, one who was all but a daughter to her, and contended with the glowing green tendrils of pure energy that spawned from a portal behind her. At first, Ran had tried sealing the thing, but quickly discovered that the power behind it was enough to tear through even her best seals. Soon afterwards, all her power was diverted into preventing Chen from getting dragged into it.
She had no idea where it came from or what purpose it served, but no one was allowed to lay a hand on Chen without her permission, not even Yukari herself!
Speaking of her Master, right about now would be a very good time for her to wake and help her! The nine tailed fox had been struggling with the portal for over an hour now, and found that physical strength was proving fruitless in releasing Chen from its grasp, and she was slowly tiring. Her only option was to somehow be seal the thing, which had already proven to be beyond her abilities.
If it was her Master however, there was nothing she did not know about the sealing arts! If only she would wake up, then she would doubtless be able to contain the portal. If only –
"You know, I'm not sure whether to be glad or upset with you for not bothering to wake me up, Ran."
Thank every god that ever was!
The kitsune turned her head without losing her grip on Chen, and felt her chest lighten. "Master!" cried Ran. Walking calmly behind her was Yukari Yakumo, the Gap Mistress and one of the most powerful beings in all of Gensokyo, as well as one of its founders.
"I know I said to avoid waking me up if it wasn't important, and I love that you regularly and dutifully follow that order, but what made you think that I would not help you prevent your adorable cat from being abducted?" Yukari shook her head in exasperation. "It seems I need to program you better, if you don't even know when to inform me of such things."
Ran would have answered if only most of her attention was not diverted to preventing Chen from slipping through the portal. Yukari sighed and stepped right next to her, her eyes examining the portal and the appendages that sprung from it with keen interest.
"I see. Give me a moment, Ran, and I'll deal with this. For now, keep your tails on Chen and do not let go," said Yukari, though it was obvious that Ran would not let go no matter what.
Seconds passed and finally, Yukari stepped forward. "Bear with me for a second, will you Neko-chan? This will feel a bit weird."
Placing a hand on the nekotama's forehead, multiple seals sprung to life around her. In a flash of light, Chen was gone.
Naturally, Ran realized what Yukari was planning. Once Chen was gone, the Kitsune slackened her tails. Yukari turned towards the portal next and stuck her hand inside it. For awhile, it looked like the portal was rejecting her, and convulsed heavily, its tendrils snaking around her arm and gripping it with intense pressure - enough to turn steel into powder. It had no effect on the Border Sage. After a moment, however, it stabilized, and the Gap Mistress gave a cold smile as her arm stretched out to the other side of the portal.
"Now, to exact some punishment for the one responsible for this transgression," she said, before tugging hard. "After all, the possession of one of my possessions, in turn, belongs still to me, and no one takes my things from me."
Nothing came out or was in the grip of her hand, but Yukari smiled all the same. Whatever she wanted to accomplish, it had been done without error.
Several seals and a barrier formed around the portal, then broke apart as it slowly faded away. Finally and with a snap of Yukari's fingers, Chen was released from the seal placed on her. The young nekomata looked dazed and slightly traumatized, but otherwise, fine.
It was an anticlimactic ending to an originally tense situation, but such was to be expected when Yukari Yakumo takes action.
"Aah, I hope whoever that was doesn't mind becoming youkai food."